It also noted that what is at stake is the potential of losing the youth to cynicism, violence and even fanaticism.
These remarks suggest a prejudice against those without any religious affiliation.
The last census in 2000 showed that roughly 15 per cent of Singaporeans did not have any religious affiliation.
The article essentially suggested that this group, 'the godless', are cynical and prone to violence.
As a society for non-believers, the Humanist Society (Singapore) disagrees.
The reality in societies everywhere is that there is no difference between non-believing youth and the religious youth in their propensity towards violence. There are actually higher levels of violence among those who identify themselves as 'religious' or 'faithful'.
As for cynicism, there is certainly no correlation between non-belief and a cynical attitude. Many non-believers are involved in the world around them, trying to make it a more humane, compassionate place.
The two largest charitable donations in the history of the world were by atheists: American investor Warren Buffett and his fellow American Bill Gates of Microsoft donated US$30 billion (S$39 billion) and US$11 billion respectively to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, a charitable organisation whose main goals are to enhance health care and reduce poverty worldwide.
I know of many non-believers, people who identify themselves as humanists, atheists and agnostics, who regularly donate to charity. Many also do volunteer work for humanitarian causes.
One does not need to have a religion to lead a good, happy and meaningful life and to have compassion for our fellow human beings.
Paul TobinTHE Saturday Special report last week ('God wants youth') may not sit well with those without religious affiliations.
The bad behaviour of many of our youth probably stem from a combination of relentless peer influence and inadequate supervision by their parents or guardians.
This is a social problem and it is presumptuous to suppose that their plight is a consequence of straying from any celestial being and that it can be solved by divine intervention.
The report also gives the impression that godlessness is bad and is responsible for much of the trouble with our youth. It also suggests that something is not quite right with youth who do not believe in a god and must be saved by the mere act of surrendering themselves to a faith.
Nothing is farther from the truth.
The growing number of secular humanists in the world is testimony to the belief that we all can be moral and lead happy and fulfilling lives without belief in a god or dogma.
Mankind is forever indebted to this group, especially the scientists, who have helped their fellowmen conquer ignorance and fear, and taught them to better understand the world. I laud the efforts of the various faiths to lure troubled youth away from self-destructive behaviour.
If such programmes can be implemented successfully without proselytising them, well and good. Otherwise, they will be viewed only as nothing more than surreptitious attempts at conversion, which is not so good.
Let's extend a sincere gesture to help them turn their lives around with no strings attached.
What we must not do is mislead them into believing that a deity will save them. Like the rest of us, they must make an effort to save themselves.
Lee Seck Kay